AFT on Consistently Improving High School Graduation Rates

WASHINGTON—Statement by American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten on President Obama’s announcement about consistently improving high school graduation rates: 

“We take great pride, as should students, educators, parents and public schools, in President Obama’s announcement that high school graduation rates have been consistently improving. High school graduation is an important accomplishment and milestone in the path to adulthood. Educators and their students have faced a recession, a changing economy and shifting educational standards over the past several years, and it’s gratifying to see evidence of what we know intuitively—that whatever is thrown at them, they always will try to succeed. Thankfully, there’s more recognition that teaching and learning, not high-stakes tests, are what matter in student progress. Indeed, it makes sense that we’re seeing this progress in high schools, where there is an absence of the fixation on testing that has occurred in the lower grades because of federally mandated annual testing in grades 3-8.

“The gap between black, Hispanic, Native American, disabled and English learner students, and their white peers, shows progress in closing, though it’s still significant. As a nation, we must provide all children with the supports they need to be able to close the equity and opportunity gaps.”